KR20150081346A - Hand dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The hand dryer (2) includes a duct (34) in fluid communication with a slot (38) forming a nozzle outlet. The duct 34 includes an opposing first surface 50 and a second surface 54 that extend along opposite sides of the slot 38. The inclination angle of the first surface of the duct 34 with respect to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slot 38 is changed in the longitudinal direction of the slot 38. [ The hand dryer further includes a blower (10) that blows air through the spray nozzle (6) to create an air jet.

Description

Hand Dryer {HAND DRYER}

The present invention relates to a hand dryer.

GB 2428 570 discloses a hand dryer comprising an opposing spray nozzle in which a user inserts his or her hands for drying.

In use, relatively high velocity air jets are discharged from each nozzle. The nozzles are arranged such that the air jets are inclined relative to each other and cross each other between the nozzles. The user inserts his / her hand between the nozzles so that the jet flows on both sides of the hand. Air jets dry the user's hands by blowing water from the surface of each hand.

It is known that the impact of the jet is the cause of the noise generated by the hand dryer during use. The amount of noise generated can be reduced by slowing the speed of the jet. However, if the jet speed is reduced, the time required for the hand dryer to dry the hand (total drying time) is also undesirable.

WO2012017570 discloses a hand dryer comprising a nozzle having a slot of corrugated shape. The slot in the waveform reduces the noise generated by the hand dryer. However, the slots of the waveform are difficult to manufacture and not compact.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand dryer including an injection nozzle including a duct in fluid communication with a slot forming a nozzle outlet, and a blower blowing air through the injection nozzle to create an air jet.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an injection nozzle comprising a duct in fluid communication with a slot forming a nozzle outlet, the duct having opposing first and second surfaces extending along opposite sides of the slot, And a blower for blowing air through an injection nozzle to generate air jets, wherein a tilt angle of the first surface of the duct with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slot is greater than a tilt angle of the first surface A hand dryer is provided which varies in the longitudinal direction.

The slot may be substantially straight. The edge and / or surface of the nozzle / duct forming the slot may be straight / flat or curved. The slot may extend transversely with respect to the hand dryer.

The first surface and the second surface may be arranged such that the angle of inclination of the air jet changes in the longitudinal direction of the slot. The tilting angle of the first surface relative to the tilting angle of the second surface may vary in the longitudinal direction of the slot.

The tilting angle of the first surface can be changed substantially sinusoidally in the longitudinal direction of the slot.

The first surface may be the upper surface of the duct.

The tilting angle of the first surface relative to the horizontal plane may be smaller in the central region of the slot than the area of the slots on either side of the central region.

The first surface can have a profile of over and over which has a plurality of convolutions, and this overhang extends in a direction generally away from the slot in the upstream direction. The slot may be formed by the edge of the second surface and the first surface.

The slot may have a width that is formed as the distance between the first surface and the edge of the second surface in a direction perpendicular to the first surface. The width of the slot may be substantially constant along the length of the slot.

The edge of the second surface may be straight. The first surface may extend forward of the slot to form a lip that guides the air as it exits the slot.

The profile of the lip portion of the first surface may have a profile corresponding to the profile of the portion of the first surface upstream of the duct. For example, the tilt angle of the lip portion may be the same as the tilt angle of the first surface. The duct can converge in the direction of the slot (i.e., towards the slot).

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand dryer comprising an injection nozzle comprising a duct in fluid communication with a slot forming a nozzle outlet and a blower blowing air through the injection nozzle to create an air jet, Wherein the jet nozzle is configured such that the angle of inclination of the air jet relative to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slot is varied in the longitudinal direction of the slot.

The angle of inclination of the air jet relative to the horizontal plane may be smaller in the central region of the slot than in the region of the slots on either side of the central region.

The slot may have a lip extending forwardly of the slot wherein the lip is configured such that when the air is released from the slot, the angle of inclination of the air jet relative to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slot changes in the longitudinal direction of the slot As shown in Fig.

The jet nozzle may be configured to change the angle of inclination of the air jet substantially in the sinusoidal wave in the longitudinal direction of the jet. For example, the angle of inclination of the air jet can decrease from one end of the slot toward the first intermediate region of the slot formed between one end of the slot and the center of the slot; From the first intermediate region toward the center of the slot; Toward the second intermediate region of the slot formed between the center of the slot and the other end of the slot from the center of the slot and toward the other end of the slot from the second intermediate region.

The injection nozzle may be a first injection nozzle and the hand dryer may further comprise a second injection nozzle facing the first injection nozzle and the second injection nozzle is in fluid communication with a second slot forming a second nozzle outlet, And a second duct to which the second duct is connected.

The injection nozzle may be arranged such that each nozzle produces an air jet that intersects the air jet produced by the other nozzle.

The nozzle may be arranged such that a change in the angle of inclination of the air jet produced by the first jet nozzle changes the height of the intersection of the jet in the longitudinal direction of the slot.

The nozzles may be arranged such that the distance between the intersections of the jet streams, e.g. the projected intersection of the axis of the jet, and the at least one slot changes in the longitudinal direction of the slot.

The injection nozzle may be arranged such that at least one of the nozzles directs air downwardly. The injection nozzle may be arranged so that both nozzles direct the air downward.

The nozzle may be arranged such that the distance between each of the slots varies in the longitudinal direction of the slot. The distance between the slots may be smaller in the central region of the slot than in the region of the slot on either side of the central region of the slot.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a nozzle assembly comprising: a first injection nozzle including a first duct in fluid communication with a first slot defining a first nozzle outlet; And a second duct in fluid communication with a second slot defining a second nozzle outlet; and a second jet nozzle disposed opposite the first jet nozzle, Wherein the first and second slots extend in a transverse direction relative to the hand dryer and wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second slots has a distance between the slots, Is curved to change in at least one longitudinal direction of the hand dryer.

Part of each of the first slot and the second slot may be concave.

One or each of the first slot and the second slot may comprise a first scalloped section and a second waveform section and wherein each of the first waveform section and the second waveform section of the slot, And are disposed adjacent to each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of each slot. Each of the first waveform sections may face each other, and each of the second waveform sections may face each other.

The curvature of each of the first slot and the second slot may correspond to a profile of adjacent hands interspersed between the slots in a state in which each hand is extended and the palm of each hand faces the same one of the slots. For example, the curvatures of the first slot and the second slot may correspond to a profile of a pair of hands held outwardly with a thumb across the area of the finger joint.

The nozzles may be configured such that air is emitted from each of the first slot and the second slot in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of each slot such that the opposite first wave section and the opposite second wave section So that each jet can be focused toward the center of each region formed by the jet stream.

The first injection nozzle and the second injection may be arranged such that the air jets cross each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in order to provide a more in-depth understanding of the invention and to explain more clearly how the invention may be practiced.

1 is a perspective view of a hand dryer;
Figure 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the hand dryer shown in Figure 1;
3 is a cutaway perspective view of the nozzle of the hand dryer shown in Fig. 1;
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of one of the nozzles shown in Fig. 3;
5 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle along the VV line of the nozzle shown in Fig. 4;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line VI-VI;
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the nozzle shown in Fig. 4;
Figure 8 is a schematic view of the flow through a portion of the nozzle shown in Figure 3; And
9 is a schematic view of a portion of the nozzle shown in Fig.

Figures 1 and 2 show a blower in the form of a motor-driven compressor arranged to blow air through a housing 4, a first injection nozzle and a second injection nozzle 6, 8 and through the nozzles 6, Mounted hand dryer (2) including a wall-mounted hand dryer (10). The hand dryer 2 is shown in an upright state and has a transverse direction perpendicular to the upright (i.e., vertical) direction.

The housing 4 includes a lower portion 12, a front arm 14 and a rear arm 16. The front arm 14 and the rear arm 16 extend upwardly from the lower portion 12. The arms 14 and 16 form a drying cavity 18 therebetween and this drying cavity 18 has a elongated opening 20 on its top. The hand can be inserted into the drying cavity 18 through the elongate opening 20. [

The first injection nozzle and the second injection nozzle 6, 8 are disposed on opposite sides of the elongated opening 20 and are received in respective front and rear arms 14, 16.

The blower 10 is housed in the lower portion 12 of the housing 4. The intake port 22 is provided through the bottom surface of the housing 4. The intake duct 24 extends between the intake port 22 and the blower 10 and provides fluid communication between the intake port 22 and the blower 10. The blower pre-filter 26 is disposed in the intake duct 24 and is arranged to filter the air sucked into the blower 10 through the intake port 22.

The connecting duct 28 extends between the blower 10 and the first and second injection nozzles 6, 8. The connecting duct 28 includes a strainer 29 connected to the first tube 30 and the second tube 32. The first tube (30) extends upwardly in the first arm (14) to the first injection nozzle (6). The second tube 32 extends upward in the second arm 16 to the second injection nozzle 8.

Fig. 3 shows the spray nozzles 6 and 8 separately. The nozzles 6,8 include respective first and second ducts 34,36 in communication with respective first and second slots 38,40. The slots 38, 40 are straight slots providing a nozzle outlet. Each duct 34,36 includes expansion sections 42,44 and injection sections 46,48.

Each inflation section 42,44 is a diverting duct section that provides fluid communication between one of each of the tubes 30,32 and the jetting sections 46,48 of each of the nozzles 6,8. Each injection section 46,48 extends from the inflation section 42,44 of each nozzle 6,8 and is tapered relative to the inflation section 42,44. Each jetting section 46, 48 extends downwardly with respect to the upright direction of the hand dryer 2.

8, each of the jetting sections 46,48 includes a top surface 50,52 and a bottom surface 54,56. Each of the upper surfaces 50 and 52 and the lower surfaces 54 and 56 form opposite walls of the respective jetting sections 46 and 48.

The upper surfaces 50 and 52 of each jetting section 46 and 48 extend downward and have an edge forming the upper edges 58 and 60 of the jetting sections 46 and 48. The lower surfaces 54,56 of each jetting section 46,48 also extend downward and have corresponding edges forming the lower edges 62,64 of the respective jetting sections 46,48.

The upper surfaces 50 and 52 and the lower surfaces 54 and 56 of each of the jetting sections 46 and 48 converge in a direction away from the inflation sections 42 and 44. The upper surfaces 50 and 52 and the lower surfaces 54 and 56 are spaced apart by spacers 65 (shown in FIG. 4) spaced apart along the length of the respective slots 38 and 40.

The first slot 38 corresponds to the throat of the jetting section 46 of the first nozzle 6 and is the narrowest part of the jetting section 46. The first slot 38 extends transversely with respect to the jetting section 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 38 is defined between the upper surface 50 of the jetting section 46 and the lower edge 62 of the jetting section 46. The width WI of the first slot 38 is the distance between the top surface 50 and the bottom edge 62 in a direction perpendicular to the top surface 50 as shown in Fig. In the illustrated embodiment, the width WI of the first slot 38 is less than or equal to 1 mm. In addition, the width WI of the first slot 38 varies along the length of the slot 38. For example, the width of the slot 38 may vary between 0.3 mm at the end of the slot 38 and 0.4 mm at the center of the slot 38. The plane of the first slot 38 extends along the length of the lower edge 62 in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface 50.

The upper surface 50 includes a lip portion 66 extending forwardly of the first slot 38. The lip portion 66 extends a predetermined distance L away from the first slot 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the lip portion 66 extends by 1.25 mm in a direction away from the first slot 38. In the embodiment shown, the lip portion 66 is flush with the portion of the top surface 50 upstream of the slot 38. However, the lip portion 66 may be angled and / or angled relative to the portion of the upper surface 50 upstream of the first slot 38 to direct the air exiting the first slot 38 in the desired direction Lt; / RTI >

The top surface 50 of the jetting section 46 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. 9, the inclination angle [theta] of the upper surface 50 with respect to the horizontal plane changes in the longitudinal direction of the first slot 38. As shown in Fig. In particular, the tilt angle [theta] of the top surfaces 50, 52 changes substantially sinusoidally in the longitudinal direction of the slot 38 by an angle of not less than 0 degrees and not more than 75 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle of inclination is between 51 degrees (? 1) at one end of the first slot 38 and between the one end of the first slot 38 and the center of the first slot 38 (Sin [theta] 3) at the center of the first slot 38 through 59 [theta] 2 in the first intermediate region of the first slot 38 to be positioned. Similarly, the tilting angle? Is set to be equal to or greater than the tilting angle of the first slot 38 from the center of the first slot 38 through the second intermediate region of the first slot 38 with an inclination angle of 59 degrees (? 4) To the opposite end of the slot 38.

The change in the profile of the top surface 50, 52 as a result of the change in the angle of the top surface 50 is also shown in Figs. 4 is a front sectional view through the first injection nozzle 6 in a plane upstream of the first slot 38. Fig. 5 to 7 are sectional views of the first injection nozzle 6 taken along line V-V, line VI-VI, and line VII-VI.

The upper surfaces 50 and 52 are provided with a raised cone 68 shown in Figure 9 extending on both sides of the center of the slot 38 from the upper edge 58 in the upstream direction of the jetting section 46 To form a spiral surface. The height of each overflow 68 decreases from the upper edge 58 toward the rear of the first injection section 46.

The inclination angle of the lower surface 54 of the jetting section 46 is substantially constant in the longitudinal direction of the first slot 38 (i.e., the lower surface 54 is flat). In the illustrated embodiment, the inclination angle of the lower surface is 40 degrees. However, this may be 25 to 50 degrees.

8, the second slot 40 corresponds to the throat of the jetting section 48 of the second nozzle 8, which is the narrowest part of the jetting section 48. The second slot 40 extends transversely with respect to the jetting section 46.

The second slot 40 is formed between the upper edge 60 and the lower edge 64 of the jetting section 48. The width WII of the second slot 40 is a distance between the upper edge portion 60 and the lower edge portion 64. The width of the second slot 40 is 1 mm or less. For example, the width of the second slot 40 may vary between 0.3 mm at the end of the slot 40 and 0.4 mm at the center of the slot 40.

The slots 38 and 40 of the respective injection nozzles 6 and 8 have a waveform profile when viewed from the upper side of the opening 20 (i.e., the direction in which the hand is inserted into the drying cavity 18). In particular, each slot 38, 40 includes an adjacent recess. This concave portion forms each of the corrugated sections of the slots 38, 40. The corrugated section of the first slot 38 faces each of the corrugated sections of the second slot 40 to form the area of the two substantially elliptical elongated openings 20. [ Slots 38 and 40 located in the central region of the elongated opening 20 are closest between the respective waveform sections.

In the region of the elongated opening 20 in the position in which the slots 38 and 40 are closest (i.e., the central region and the end of the first slot 38) in the illustrated embodiment, the inclination angle? The inclination angle? Of the upper surface 50 of the jetting section 46 of the first nozzle 6 changes in accordance with the waveform profile of the first slot 38. [

In use, the air is sucked by the blower 10 through the intake port 22, the intake duct 24, and the blower preliminary filter 26. Air is blown through the nozzles 6, 8 along the connecting duct 28 by the blower 10. When the air passes through the funnel-shaped narrows through the jetting sections 46 and 48 of the respective nozzles 6 and 8, the air is compressed by the converging upper surfaces 50 and 52 and the lower surfaces 54 and 56 , And is ejected from each of the slots 38, 40 as a relatively high-velocity planar air jet.

The air jets diffuse along a jet stream axis that is projected generally downward into the drying cavity 18. The projected jet axis intersects each other in the drying cavity below the elongated opening 20. [ It will be appreciated that the jet will diffuse in a direction away from the slots 38, 40, creating an area of impact between the jets. The area where the jet collides is the crossing area. The cross region of the jet extends in the transverse direction relative to the hand dryer 2.

As shown in Figure 1, the corrugation profile of the slots 38, 40 directs air emitted from the slots 38, 40 toward the respective center of the elliptical region of the elongated opening 20. [ This concentrates (i.e., concentrates) the airflow within the region of the drying cavity 18 into which the user's hand is inserted, thereby improving the drying efficiency in these areas.

The inclination angle of the jet generated by the second nozzle 8 is constant along the length of the second slot 40. On the other hand, the inclination angle of the jet generated by the first nozzle 6 changes in the longitudinal direction of the first slot 38. This tilt angle corresponds to the tilt angle [theta] of the top surface 50 of the first jetting section 46 which directs air through the first slot 38. [ The direction of the jet depends on the angle of inclination of the top surface 50, particularly the angle of the lip portion 66 that guides the air when air is discharged from the first slot 38.

Since the jet generated by the first nozzle 6 is inclined further downward in the middle region of the first slot 38, And is further projected downward into the portion 18. As a result, the jet generated by the first nozzle 6 is jetted by the second nozzle 8 at a lower position in the drying cavity 18 in the middle region than in the central region and the end region Intersect. The distance of the crossing of the jet is therefore farther from the respective slot 38, 40 in the middle region than in the central region and the end region of the slots 38,

As a result, the interference of the jet flow in the middle region is smaller than in the other region, so that less noise is generated. Although the drying efficiency in the middle area is reduced, the hand inserted into the drying cavity is less wet in the middle area than in the central area and the end area of the slots 38 and 40, so that the total drying time is not increased. Therefore, even though the drying efficiency in some areas is lower than in other areas, the drying time in each area is similar.

The advantage of this arrangement is that the variation of the profile of the jet flow generated by the first nozzle 6, and thus the variation of the crossing position of the jet flow, is achieved without having to significantly change the profile of both slots 38, 40 . Both of the slots 38, 40 can therefore be substantially straight, which allows the slot to be designed and manufactured more simply and comparatively inexpensively.

It will be appreciated that the first slot may have a constant width WII along its length. The second surface of the first slot may also have a tilting angle that varies in the longitudinal direction of the first slot. It will be appreciated that the tilting angle of the first surface and the second surface of the first slot may be such that the tilting angle of the air jet emitted from the first nozzle is substantially constant along the length of the first slot.

The second nozzle 8 also includes a duct having a first surface and a second surface that extend along opposite sides of the second slot 40 and at least one of the surfaces is tilted at a second slot 40 In the longitudinal direction. The inclination angle of the surface of the second nozzle 8 may correspond to the inclination angle of the inclined surface of the first nozzle 6.

It will be appreciated that although the illustrated embodiment shows two opposed jet nozzles that generate jet streams that intersect, the jet nozzles may be arranged to produce jet streams that do not intersect. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the present hand dryer may include a single injection nozzle.

Claims (14)

As a hand dryer,
An injection nozzle including a duct in fluid communication with a slot forming a nozzle outlet, the duct comprising opposing first and second surfaces extending along opposite sides of the slot;
And a blower for blowing air through the injection nozzle to generate air jets, wherein an inclination angle of the first surface of the duct with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slot is changed in the longitudinal direction of the slot , Hand dryer. The method according to claim 1,
Said slot being substantially straight. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the first surface and the second surface are disposed such that when the air jet is discharged from the slot, an angle of inclination of the air jet changes in the longitudinal direction of the slot. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein a tilting angle of the first surface relative to a tilting angle of the second surface changes in a longitudinal direction of the slot. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Wherein the tilting angle of the first surface is substantially sinusoidal in the longitudinal direction of the slot. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Wherein the first surface is an upper surface of the duct. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Wherein the tilting angle of the first surface with respect to the horizontal plane is smaller in the central region of the slot than in the region of the slot on either side of the central region. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Wherein the first surface has a wavy profile with a plurality of convolutions and the wider axis extends in a direction generally away from the slot in a direction upstream. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Wherein the slot is formed by the edge of the second surface and the first surface. 10. The method of claim 9,
Said slot having a width defined as the distance between said first surface and said edge of said second surface in a direction perpendicular to said first surface and the width of said slot being substantially constant along the length of said slot, Dryer. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,
Wherein the edge of the second surface is straight. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
Wherein the first surface extends forwardly of the slot to form a lip guiding the air when air is discharged from the slot. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the profile of the lip portion of the first surface has a profile that matches the profile of the portion of the first surface upstream of the duct. 14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
Wherein the duct converges in the direction of the slot.

Images